Latino music to take over plaza

In September 2008, the inaugural Latino Music Festival was set to take over Main Plaza for a couple of days/nights. Because Hurricane Ike was churning in the Gulf, the fest wound up being pared down and postponed until November.

Tish Hinojosa brings original folk and country to the Latino Music Festival mix.

Tish Hinojosa brings original folk and country to the Latino Music Festival mix.

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Alejandro Escovedo will share his rocking root sensibilities with the crowd.

Alejandro Escovedo will share his rocking root sensibilities with the crowd.

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Latino music to take over plaza

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In September 2008, the inaugural Latino Music Festival was set to take over Main Plaza for a couple of days/nights. Because Hurricane Ike was churning in the Gulf, the fest wound up being pared down and postponed until November.

"We have blue skies and they're going to hold. We ordered it," said Marisela Barrera, program coordinator for Main Plaza, laughing.

So the second annual Latino Music Festival will take over Main Plaza, in the big middle of downtown at the intersection of Main Avenue and West Commerce Street, Saturday from noon to midnight. Admission is free. There's free parking in the Frost Bank street-level lots at Flores and Houston streets and Flores and Travis streets.

"We started this festival last year to invite people to come downtown to Main Plaza, to broaden the definition of Latino music and to explore the different genres of Latino music," Barrera said. "We have something special in our region."

There is certainly diversity on the bill. Bassist Bubba Hernandez and his Super Vatos bring together jazz, funk, cumbia and more. The Krayolas, with the West Side Horns, play British Invasion/old school S.A.-inspired rock 'n' roll. Conjunto is represented by Foxy y Chucho's tradition and Flaco Jimenez's tradition-meets-progression.

There'll also be visual art from David Zamora Casas, the fire spinning of Brothers of the Flame, hoop dancing courtesy of Shimarella and the requisite festival food and beverages.

"The booking starts with one idea - What if? - and happens from there" Barrera said. "What if we could get Johnny Rodriguez to come to the heart of San Antonio? What if Tish can make it? What if Alejandro Escovedo is available? Flaco is a favorite of San Antonio. We've been working on getting Alejandro here for a year. I've heard Flaco will sit in with Tish.

"I think it's going to be very special. The people on the bill are all fans of each other. And, the festival coincides with the Veterans Day parade, so people who come for the parade can stay for the music."

"I think it's important to mix in different genres in the arts," Barrera said. "This year we'll have speakers introducing some of the artists. Barbara Renaud Gonzalez, a poet and novelist, will introduce Tish. Octavio Solis, a playwright in residence at AtticRep, will introduce Alejandro."

This year there's also a kick-off party. Hinojosa and Los TexManiacs will be in concert tonight at 9 at Casbeers at the Church, 1150 S. Alamo St.

"This is the first time we've ventured indoors with this type of partnership," Barrera said. "I think it makes a lot of sense to start the party early. Also, Johnny Rodriguez will be at the kick-off party hanging out and signing autographs."

After some renovations, Main Plaza is prepped to receive visitors.

"Last weekend we had 5,000 people in the plaza for the Notre Dame marching band," Barrera said. "The plaza is ready."